Stars of a new era

A host of star kids are getting ready to make their mark in Bollywood this year, report Diganta Guha and Sarbani Sen.

Bombay filmdom is gearing up to extend a warm welcome to Gen X. A host of star kids are getting ready to make their mark in cinema this year.

Huh, such a long listThe biggest launch is that of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor's son Ranbir opposite Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, which is slated for a year-end release. Mithun Chakraborty's son Mimoh's debut venture Jimmy releases soon.

Sanjay Gupta's Woodstock Villa is the launch vehicle of Sikander (son of Kirron and Anupam Kher), who has another release later this year in director Suhail Tatari's Summer of 2007.

Imaad Shah who did a cameo in father Naseeruddin Shah's directorial debut Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota last year has a much bigger role in Manish Tiwary's Dil, Dosti Etc. Naseeruddin's daughter Heeba has already made her debut in Missed Call.

It's not all about acting debuts. Dharmendra and Hema Malini's daughter Ahana will don the director's cap, as will Sadashiv Amrapurkar's 26-year-old daughter Rema, who is making a Marathi film, Arra …Arre Aab Aata Tari Thambha.

First choice?For some of them, it was films and only films. "I attended a workshop organised by the National School of Drama, New Delhi," says Sikander. However, for others, films were not the only option. Mimoh wanted to be an astronomer. But Hrithik Roshan's sensational launch in Kaho Na Pyar Hai attracted him to acting .

"My father asked me if I was interested. It took me some time to work on my looks and get ready for my debut film," he says. Rema, whose elder sisters are academicians, is an MA in economics. "After seeing villagers suffer because of lack of water and electricity, I was inspired to direct a film on it," she says.

Not a smooth road, after allStars streaming in to films is not new in Hindi cinema. Some succeeded, some didn't. Actors like Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapur, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan made it big.. others like Kumar Gaurav, Kunal Goswami, Arya Babbar, Puru Raj Kumar and Suneil Anand couldn't do any wonder.

"I can't tell you how pressurised I'm feeling right now.. it's a big burden to carry forward a legacy that one has got on one's platter," says Mimoh.

Adds his father, Mithun, ""Mimoh has to carve out his own niche. I have made it on my own and I want him to do the same."

Positive outlookFilmmakers are optimistic too. "Imaad will be judged in different parameters.. but I know he will make his mark," says Manish Tiwary, who's directing Imaad in Imaad in Dil, Dosti, Etc.

Adds Tatari, who is directing Sikander in Summer of 2007, "At the end of the day, talent counts.. all these newcomers appear confident . They will go places is all I'll say."